Monday afternoon, May 4, 2026

Happy “Star Wars Day”!  (May the 4th be with you…)

It was pretty chilly over the weekend, and we received a tiny rain in the wee hours of this morning.  Now, in the late afternoon, the skies are again overcast and there is a stiff breeze blowing.  The temp has reached 74ºF (23C) but it doesn’t ‘feel’ warm.  More rain is predicted for tomorrow, as much as 1.4″ (36mm).   We have been inspecting most of the planted fields over the past few days.  I’m making another list of fields where areas of replanting will need to be done in the soybeans.  So far, that list shows about another 110 acres.  Brandon is doing the same for the corn fields.  This replant need has been created by the heavy (as much as 5+ inches) weekend before last.  White River West Fork has also had some minor flooding which added to the replanting list.  It will be a few days before those areas dry enough to perform the replanting.

Until then, other tasks occupy our days.  The guys have one of the combines in the shop and they are making the changes necessary to prepare it to cut wheat next month.  In addition, a full servicing will be given, with engine oil change, filter changes, and lubrication.

The newer S780 (2024 model) is in our shop to prepare for next month’s wheat harvest. The older S780 (2019 model) will come into the shop soon after this one is prepared. The headers will need attention also.

We were anticipating an unusually early start to wheat harvest, but the chilly recent days have slowed that down noticeably.   If we start wheat harvest about the typical time (June 20), it will not be surprising.   It feels good to get the combines and headers ready.  It’s never fun to feel ‘under the gun’ but that is sometimes unavoidable.

John has also been reviewing the planted fields to determine the weed pressure and to organize his priorities for when to begin post-emerge spraying herbicides.   He says, “Oh, it’ll all be ready at the same time!”    He feels the pressure of that timing, and how the load of work can compress into a smaller window of opportunity.   It certainly is a challenge, made even more so by his compulsion to get it “exactly right”.   We know from all the previous years that it will somehow all work out.

Have a great week.